If we decide to dedicate some of our time to Him who has given us so much and continues to shower us with gifts, is it not reasonable to give it to Him generously, especially since it is in our supreme interest and can be immensely beneficial to us? (…) How many hours do we waste on ourselves, simply to entertain people who are then not even grateful! And so, if we decide to dedicate some of our time to prayer, let us give it to Him unconditionally, without any thought of the things of this world. Let us dedicate it to Him generously, being determined not to take it back, despite the hardships, adversities, and dryness we may experience. Simply consider this time as something that no longer belongs to us…
(Teresa of Jesus, The Way of Perfection XXIII,1-2)
